After uncertainty, Massachusetts gets heating assistance funds

Monday

Nov 27, 2017 at 12:01 AMNov 27, 2017 at 1:58 PM

Despite threats that funding would be eliminated in President Donald Trump's preliminary budget, the state's home heating program will continue to keep low-income families warm this year, just as temperatures are beginning to drop.

Gerry Tuoti Wicked Local Newsbank Editor

Despite threats that funding would be eliminated in President Donald Trump’s preliminary budget, the state’s home heating program will continue to keep low-income families warm this year, just as temperatures are beginning to drop.

“Now that it’s getting colder, we’re getting busier, and we expect that,” said Garth Patterson, project director for the fuel assistance program at the Fall River-based Citizens for Citizens, a community action agency that serves several cities and towns in Southeastern Massachusetts.

Federal funding for LIHEAP, the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, was uncertain for much of the year after Trump’s preliminary budget blueprint called for eliminating the program. The program, which provided states with more than $3.4 billion last year, is the primary source of funding for local fuel assistance programs. The programs provide financial assistance to help low-income families heat their homes in the winter. Last year, fuel assistance programs helped more than 190,000 households.

The LIHEAP funding was preserved when Congress passed a continuing budget resolution to fund government programs through Dec. 8. Under the resolution, LIHEAP was funded at the same level as last year. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released 90 percent of the LIHEAP funds to states on Nov. 1 and is expected to disburse the remaining funds later in the fiscal year.

“We all know it is a very needed program,” said Susan Brittain, deputy director for energy and community resources at Lowell-based Community Teamwork Inc., which offers a fuel assistance program in 18 communities. “We service many elderly households, and people would go cold without it. We hoped people would really acknowledge it’s a necessity.”

Although LIHEAP was level-funded nationally, some states aren’t getting the same amount of funds as they did last year. Federal law requires that the funds be distributed to states according to a formula that incorporates factors including changes in average temperatures, the heating fuel sources used in each state, fuel prices and the number of low-income households. Those numbers can fluctuate year to year.

Massachusetts is getting less LIHEAP funding this year as a result of the formula. The state’s initial award was $122.9 million, 90 percent of $136 million. Last year, the state got a total of $146.2 million.

“We get funded every year, and priorities change every year,” Brittain said. “There’s always a concern about how much we’re going to get. Even now, it’s not enough to keep them warm all winter. They make decisions about going without medicine or food to heat their homes.”

Local program managers say demand seems roughly on par with last year so far.

In Massachusetts, fuel assistance is available to households earning less than 60 percent of the state’s median income. That’s $34,380 for a household of one, or $66,115 for a family of four. The amount of financial assistance varies according to income. The maximum benefit available to people in the lowest income bracket is $1,100 for the season. The lowest benefit for people in the highest eligible income bracket is $120.

People seeking fuel assistance can apply Nov. 1 through April 30 with their local community action program.

“A lot of people are eligible for this service,” Patterson said. “We are pushing our outreach to make sure people know about the program and are taking advantage.”